Firestone Natural Rubber aims for excellence in Liberian education

ERJ staff report (TB)

Harbel, Liberia -- Firestone Natural Rubber Co. LLC said it aims to make the system of 26 schools and 15,000 students on its natural rubber plantation in Liberia the best in the country.

Although Firestone Liberia's school system was destroyed by the country's long civil war, all 218 Firestone Senior High School students who took the West African Examinations Council exams in May 2010 passed the tests and qualified for graduation, , according to a Firestone Natural Rubber press release. Four of the top five individual student scores on the exam also came from Firestone Senior High students, the company said.

The Firestone Liberia Scholarship Program provided more than 100 scholarships for primary, secondary and university studies in the 2010-2011 academic year alone, Firestone said. In addition to K-12 education, Firestone also sponsors an Adult Literacy Program and an Accelerated Learning Program designed by Liberia's Education Ministry.

“You have taken advantage of the opportunities afforded you as children of Firestone employees and you have done well,” said Dan Adomitis, president of Firestone Natural Rubber, at the recent commencement ceremony at Firestone Senior High. “For that, I applaud you.”

From Tire Business (A Crain publication)